by Rick Wood
I could not have imagined this life.
A month ago, the possibility of a relationship with my daughter and a home filled with happiness seemed impossible. Now we’re so happy we’re practically a cliché; we’re the family other families envy.
And she has a friend.
And I am enjoying my job again.
And everything is just too good.
My eyes wander around the room, and I consider where we could hang some more pictures. There’s a blank wall behind me, and through the open door there’s blank walls throughout the hallway.
That’s when I see it.
On the floor. In front of the door.
An envelope.
I look over my shoulder to see if Harper is almost finished. The popping of the popcorn is getting more frequent.
I push myself up, walk through the hallway, and I pick up the envelope.
There is no address written on the front, just my name, with the Ls curled up at the end and a heart in place of the dot above the I.
Was this hand-delivered?
I turn it over. Dig my finger beneath the flap and tear it open.
A single piece of A4 paper unfolds in my hands.
It is blank, aside from the imprint of lipstick formed by a kiss, and the words I miss you written below it.
I take out my phone and Google her name. Destiny Hill. The first article that comes up reads:
Teenage Girl Obsessed With Teacher Discharged From Hospital Into Police Custody
Harper returns from the kitchen with a large bowl of popcorn, and sees the look on my face. Her smile fades, and she asks me, “What’s the matter?”
I go to speak, but I stutter, unable to answer.
Then I finally say, “Oh, nothing — just a bill I wasn’t expecting.”
“Oh. Never mind. Come watch the movie.”
“I’ll be one minute.”
I walk into the computer room and, checking that Harper isn’t watching, I place the letter and the envelope in the shredder. It gives me a sense of satisfaction to watch the paper slice into perfect strips, making the note indecipherable, and removing Destiny once again from our lives.
I resume my place on the sofa, press play on the movie, and take a handful of popcorn.
As it turns out, the movie is quite good.
And when it finishes, we say goodnight and sleep soundly in our beds, undisturbed, and for our newfound bond never to be broken again.
I have my daughter back.
And that is all that matters.
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Also by Rick Wood
The Sensitives:
Book One — The Sensitives
Book Two — My Exorcism Killed Me
Book Three — Close to Death
Book Four — Demon’s Daughter
Book Five — Questions for the Devil
Book Six - Repent
Book Seven - The Resurgence
Book Eight - Until the End
Shutter House
Shutter House
Prequel Book One - This Book is Full of Bodies
Cia Rose:
Book One — After the Devil Has Won
Book Two — After the End Has Begun
Book Three - After the Living Have Lost
Chronicles of the Infected
Book One — Zombie Attack
Book Two — Zombie Defence
Book Three — Zombie World
Standalones:
When Liberty Dies
I Do Not Belong
Death of the Honeymoon
Blood Splatter Books
Psycho B*tches
Home Invasion
Anthologies
Roses Are Red So Is Your Blood
Twelve Days of Christmas Horror
Twelve Days of Christmas Horror Volume 2
Sean Mallon:
Book One — The Art of Murder
Book Two — Redemption of the Hopeless
The Edward King Series:
Book One — I Have the Sight
Book Two — Descendant of Hell
Book Three — An Exorcist Possessed
Book Four — Blood of Hope
Book Five — The World Ends Tonight
Non-Fiction
How to Write an Awesome Novel
Thrillers published as Ed Grace:
The Jay Sullivan Thriller Series
Assassin Down
Kill Them Quickly
Contents
1. @LuvvaGirl99
2. Will
3. Harper
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Three Weeks Later
64. Will
Join Rick Wood’s Reader’s Group and get two ebooks for free
Also by Rick Wood
Also by Rick Wood
Also by Rick Wood